MotoringFile Most liked posts in thread: Meeke: “Next year, we chase the titleâ€

.....and Loeb ain't getting any younger.

 

Didn't say I would bet against him but he has been on a very long run......and the competition looks to be getting stronger, not just from Mini...

Ya just got to believe that with what Mini has done in this, a limited test season, it has excited the powers at be inside BMW. That excitement should translate to even more support, financially and technically!!

 

And if Seb Loeb retires at the end of this season, they may actually have a shot at it!

 

I can't agree with you on that one Dave. Loeb is very good, but not unbeatable. These two can turn on the pressure, which can cause lots of things to happen. Dani is no longer in a position where he has to "support" Loeb, so the game is wide open.

Jim

 

Agree!

 

It's not that Loeb is unbeatable - he is - but if Citroen continues to support and develope the car, he will be very hard to top - reminds me of MS and Ferrari in their heydays.

I think it comes down more to when he wants to retire, there will be wins by others along the season, but in the end, he'll be on top. And no diservice to Meeke and the MINI team, but others have tried for years, and this is what - his 8th in a row?

 

Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso F1 driver, is a mate of Dani Sordo and visited him in the WRC Rally Spain service park. He made exactly the same comment about Loeb being the Schumacher of rallying.

 

All you say is very true and Loeb is a great driver, with a great company sponsoring him, but there are new factors in the game for 2012.

Citroen knows how to build rally cars, but so does Prodrive. Citroen has been using their other drivers in a support role to protect Loeb's win. In the three rally's that Kris and Dani have been given the green light, they have been knocking on the door, up front, not just in the pack. It will be hard to protect Loeb from the number #3 position, when Dani is in #2, with Kris in the mix someplace close by. I believe I read that Prodrive was using this year to get the handling of the car right and the engine improvements would be next, before the 2012 start. The handling is clearly correct and it is proving to be one fast car before the engine mods. Dani is a skilled WRC driver, where Kris is very hungry and learning fast. Kris now owns seven championship points that Loeb does not. As I read it, the numbers are close and although Loeb will, most likely win, he is not a shoe in yet, thanks to Kris.

All I'm saying is, there is a new team in town and the WRC for 2012 is going to be far different from the past few years. Citroen is going to have to sit up, take notice and change some things.

Jim

 

Seb is young. It depends on your point of view. Lots of folks look young to me. :wink:

I don't know who will be on top next year, but I do know it will be a very interesting championship for sure. May the best team win....

Stay tuned rally fans.

 

I agree Mark and I think some of the other factory teams realize they better not be sitting on their backsides in 2012.

Jim

 

Sounds like he is looking to head in another direction while he is at the high point of this one. That is a very smart move on his part. I know some will disagree, but he is pushing 40 and in today's sports, that is approaching the over the hill gang. He mentioned that the series he plans to enter is a test of the "driver", as the cars are all the same. That can turn things around and make the old guy a better choice then a young one. Perhaps he realizes that there are other WRC drivers nipping at his heels. If he gracefully walks away, while on top, there will always be the question "could Loeb have been beaten if he had remained in the WRC".

Jim